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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is strengthening its long established position in the Middle East as one of the leading luxury hotel operators in the region with a portfolio of nearl

DUBAI – January 13, 2011 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide,
Inc. (NYSE:HOT) is strengthening its long established position in the
Middle East as one of the leading luxury hotel operators in the region with a
portfolio of nearly 50 existing hotels and a pipeline of 25 new hotels. This
growth, primarily in the luxury and upper-upscale segments, represents an
increase of nearly 50%. By 2015, the Middle East will become the second region,
after North America, to operate all nine of Starwood’s world-class brands - St.
Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by
Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft and Element -
further reinforcing the company’s commitment to the region.

As a key emerging market, the Middle East continues to evolve as an
international business and leisure travel destination. According to the UN
World Tourism Organization, the number of tourists travelling to the Middle
East is expected to reach 136 million by 2020 compared with 54 million two
years ago.

“Reaching out to new frontiers is a key focus for us. With more than 70% of the
world’s growth over the decade coming from fast-growing markets such as the
Middle East, the region plays a central role in our global expansion and
development strategy,” said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO, Starwood
Hotels & Resorts.

First Mover Advantage Key to Starwood’s Leadership Role in the Middle
East
Starwood’s first-mover advantage in the Middle East dates back to 1966 with the
debut of the Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers, the company’s first hotel to
open outside of the United States. The property was also the first five-star
hotel in Kuwait to be managed by an international company. Since that time,
Starwood’s portfolio in the Middle East has surged to 47 hotels in ten
countries, including: United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan and Yemen.

Starwood Signs Five New Hotel Deals for the Middle East this
Month
To mark an auspicious start to the year, Starwood’s most senior global
executives – Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO; Vasant Prabhu, Vice
Chairman and CFO; Matt Avril, President of Hotel Group; Ken Siegel, Chief
Administrative Officer and General Counsel; Simon Turner, President, Global
Development and Roeland Vos, President, Europe, Africa, Middle East are
currently visiting the region. While in the Middle East, they will sign deals
to open five new Starwood hotels in the region.

The new Sheraton Sharjah, due to open in 2013, will mark the debut of Starwood
in the emirate. Starwood currently operates 20 hotels in the UAE, more than any
other region, and will expand its portfolio with ten new hotels in the country
in the next few years.

In 2013, the company will add to its portfolio in Muscat with the addition of
three hotels under its W, Westin and Element brands. These hotels will add 700
rooms to the capital’s room count when they join the Sheraton Oman which is
scheduled to re-open this year following an extensive renovation. This hotel
development represents a milestone for the sultanate, which is rapidly
developing as a popular tourist destination.

In 2014, Starwood will debut its ultra-luxury St. Regis brand to Jordan
with the St. Regis Amman and The Residences at St. Regis Amman.

“Starwood is established as the sector leader in the Middle East and we are
dedicated to continued growth and expansion in the region. With 25 hotels set
to open in the next few years, this market is integral to our overall growth
strategy,” said Roeland Vos, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts,
Europe, Africa & Middle East (EAME). “We are proud to debut our distinct
and compelling brands in so many exciting international business and leisure
travel destinations.”

Eight out of Nine Starwood Brand Flags Fly in the Middle East

Starwood debuted its iconic SheratonHotels & Resorts in
the Middle Eastin 1966 and since that time the brand has grown to 16 hotels
located in key business and leisure travel destinations throughout the Middle
East.

Benefiting from Sheraton’s strong brand awareness, its sister brand,
Four Points by Sheraton has six hotels and another five poised to open
by end 2013.

Global powerhouse Le Méridien leads Starwood’s portfolio in the
region with 18 hotels throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The brand
will enter Qatar in 2013 with the new Le Méridien Doha.

This year Starwood will debut its ultra-luxury brand, St. Regis, in
the Middle East with the opening of three St. Regis hotels – one in Doha and
two in Abu Dhabi. The company plans to open additional St. Regis hotels in
Amman and Dubai in the next three years.

Also on the luxury front, the UAE’s iconic Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa
recently joined The Luxury Collection Portfolio. TheLuxury Collection
currently has three hotels in the region throughout the UAE and in Kuwait and
plans to open two additional hotels in Aqaba, Jordan and Ajman, UAE.

Design-led W Hotels made its debut in the Middle East in 2009 with
the opening of the W Doha in Qatar. The brand has plans to open four more W
Hotels in the region by end 2014 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Amman, and Muscat.

Starwood’s new Aloft brand, which offers style, design and high-tech
touches at an affordable price, opened in Abu Dhabi in 2009, marking the debut
of the brand in the Middle East. The brand will make its entrance into Saudi
Arabia in 2013 with the Aloft Riyadh.

Starwood’s newest brand, Element, will soon debut in the buzzing
city of Muscat, Oman as part of a trio of Starwood hotels opening in the city.
Element is Starwood’s eco-chic hotel brand that blends nature-inspired smart
design, inspiring public spaces, and comfortable modern touches.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and
leisure companies in the world with 1025 properties in 100 countries and
territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.
Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels,
resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St.
Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four
Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element
SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership,
Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation
interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.